Juarez activist Esther Chavez dies

Advocate opened center, pushed for proper investigations in border killings

CIUDAD JUAREZ, Mexico - Esther Chavez, a women's rights activist who first drew attention to the brutal slayings of women in the border city of Ciudad Juarez, has died, her nephew said Saturday. She was 73.

Hector Chavez Arbizu said his aunt died of cancer on Friday and will be buried in Ciudad Juarez, where more than 100 women were strangled and their bodies dumped in the desert or vacant lots in a string of killings that began in the 1990s.

Chavez founded Casa Amiga, a shelter for female victims of violence in this city of 1.5 million across the border from El Paso, Texas.

She worked tirelessly to denounce the decade-long string of killings and to demand that the deaths be properly investigated. Most of the victims were young, slender women and many worked at border assembly factories known as maquiladoras.

Authorities initially downplayed the problem, and many of the crimes remain unresolved. To the end of her life, Chavez remained highly critical of police efforts and said the total death toll from the wave of violence against women in the city was in the hundreds.

In 2008, Chavez won Mexico's National Human Rights Award. And a month before she died, the Inter-American Court of Human Rights issued a ruling criticizing Mexico for a lack of diligence in investigating the slayings of 3 of the victims.

The court said it found irregularities in the probes, including the mishandling of evidence and the coercing of innocent people to confess.

The court said Mexico should pay a total of $800,000 in compensation to the victims' families, solve the killings and fix its procedures for investigating the slayings. Mexico has agreed to be bound by the court's rulings.

source:http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/34596661/ns/world_news-americas/

Bible as a prospectus? Your results may vary

Some find good advice for recession, other see bad fit for modern economy

BOSTON - A Hummer, a 1957 hot rod, a comfortable house in a gated community — if Bob Vigliotti wanted something, he bought it. Cash or credit didn't matter. As a successful commercial real estate developer from Naples, Fla., he could afford it. Until he couldn't.

In 2007, the budding economic downturn claimed one of his major projects. For two years, Vigliotti, 58, battled depression as he bled $1 million cash. But Vigliotti said just when he thought there were no answers, he found them in the Bible: debt reduction, simpler living and, most of all, faith that God would provide what he needed. Vigliotti won't buy on credit now, is selling his pricey vehicles and is looking to downsize to a condo.

"The angst, anxiety and the depression is gone, and that's huge," Vigliotti said. "(The Bible's words) are alive today, and not just history book words."

Depending on your view, the Bible is divinely inspired or a collection of tall tales. But many see it as a source of financial wisdom that transcends individual faith and the centuries between when it was written and today's tough times.

"All sound professional advice, I found, ... has its roots someplace in Scripture," said Ron Blue, author of "Surviving Financial Meltdown" and founder of the Kingdom Advisors, which trains Christian financial professionals. Blue uses the Bible for guidance on everything from budgeting to long-term investing and handling an inheritance.

But Robert Manning, author of "Credit Card Nation," said biblically based financial advice isn't sophisticated enough in a world of rising health care, housing and retirement costs, where people need to learn to take advantage of complicated credit and tax laws.

"If you're going to go pre-New Deal, 1924 America, that's basically what this advice is driven by," Manning said. "It sounds so good and plausible until you actually put it into reality, and it just doesn't work."

Purveyors of biblically based financial advice count up to 2,300 verses on money management. Frequently cited verses in the Old Testament book of Proverbs urge careful spending, including "The plans of the diligent lead to profit, as surely as haste leads to poverty." Another warns debtors that "the borrower is servant to the lender."

Blue sees advice to diversify stock portfolios in a verse about a man's "bread" from Ecclesiastes: "Give portions to seven, yes to eight, for you do not know what disaster may come upon the land."

But the many verses can be interpreted in different ways.

For instance, in the gospel of John, Jesus says "I have come that they might have life, and have it to the full," which some "prosperity gospel" preachers see as a promise of material wealth to faithful givers. Others say it's an assurance of joy or contentment.

The Bible's core financial principles aren't pliable, as the varied interpretations might suggest, said Matt Bell, Christian author of "Money Strategies for Tough Times." But during an economic downturn, people can be pulled every which way by someone holding up a Bible and handing down their version of financial wisdom, he said.

"Any time someone is in a point of pain, they're especially vulnerable," Bell said. "That's where they especially need wise counsel."

Plenty are willing to give it. Financial guru Dave Ramsey's Financial Peace University course has enrolled more than 750,000 families. Crown Financial Ministries, based in Gainesville, Ga., says it will give 300 seminars and "coach" 10,000 people this year.

Regional events and workshops are offered by authors such as Bell and Kevin Cross, a Florida accountant whose book "Building Your Financial Fortress in 52 Days" changed Vigliotti's view of money.

Whatever brand of financial philosophy they offer, Manning sees self-interest in church-based advice on money management because struggling members give less to the church and also take more away in the form of financial aid. He said such ministries can be a way to impose "social control" by convincing churchgoers to use their money only in church-approved ways. They're also "a hook to bring people in, to have them rejoin the flock," he said.

"They went on their wayward ways, and look what it got them into," Manning said. "But if they come back to the church and they follow the prescription, life is going to be on autopilot again."

Blue said reaching people with biblical financial principles is much more about affecting what's in people's hearts than what's in their pockets. Money and the pursuit of wealth are huge sources of stress, and God wants us to handle it properly so that we can be at peace, he said.

"The way you spend money is a function really of your character, your values and your priorities in life," Blue said. "So when the Bible speaks about money, it's not as interested in making you a millionaire as it is helping you shape the character of your life."

Sally Geckeler of Johns Creek, Ga., turned to biblical financial principles after her husband died in a ultralight plane crash in 2004, leaving her his business and three boys to raise. When she began to view money as God's possession, and not hers, her fears eased and now she makes better financial decisions, she said.

"I have to have goals and reasons I do things, not just go frivolously spending it on whatever I desire," said Geckeler, 48.

James Hudnut-Beumler, Dean of the Divinity School at Vanderbilt University and author of "In Pursuit of the Almighty's Dollar," said he respects many Christian financial advisers for taking the "magic" out of faith-based money management by emphasizing sound choices, and valuing things that can't be bought.

But he said the Bible is ultimately a profound account of God's relationship and enduring love for humanity. There's a danger its greatness can be diminished if it comes to be viewed as a sort of financial fix-it book for helping people manage personal finances.

"Suddenly, you're crediting the Bible for something quite less than what it might have done for you," he said.

source:http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/34574721/ns/business-personal_finance/

Report: Hasan asked about killing troops in ’08

Cleric says alleged Fort Hood shooter inquired whether it would be ‘lawful’

A radical Muslim cleric claims Army psychiatrist Maj. Nidal Hasan asked him about killing American soldiers nearly a year before Hasan allegedly shot to death 13 fellow soldiers at Fort Hood.

In an interview Wednesday with the Arabic-language news network Al-Jazeera, Anwar al-Awlaki, considered a key recruiter for al-Qaida, said Hasan asked him in a December 2008 e-mail "whether killing American soldiers and officers is lawful or not" under Islamic law.

However, a Yemeni air raid on Thursday may have killed the preacher along with the top two leaders of al-Qaida's regional branch, a Yemeni security official said.

"Anwar al-Awlaki is suspected to be dead," the official said of the cleric who was on the run in Yemen, where he was on the government's most-wanted list of terrorist suspects.

In the interview, Al-Awlaki then appears to taunt U.S. intelligence and security, saying, "I wonder where were the American security forces that one day claimed they can read the numbers of any license plate, anywhere in the world, from space."

He also said he first met Hasan about nine years ago when he was imam at an Islamic center in Washington, D.C.

An English translation of the interview was provided by Evan Kohlmann, a terrorism analyst for NBC News.

Conflicting claims
Al-Awlaki is a New Mexico native who graduated from Colorado State University in Fort Collins, Colo., in 1994 with a bachelor's degree in civil engineering. In 2002, he moved to Yemen, where he is at large.

Al-Awlaki's claim would contradict statements by the FBI, which determined that discussions in intercepted e-mails between Hasan and al-Awlaki were mostly about research being conducted by Hasan and philosophical. Based on that, the FBI said, a Joint Terrorism Task Force determined Hasan "was not involved in terrorist activities or terrorist planning" and chose not to launch an investigation of Hasan.

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Read English translation of interview with al-Awlaki

In the Al-Jazeera interview, Awlaki denies any claims that he recruited or worked with Hasan for the Fort Hood attack. "I did not recruit Nidal Hasan, but America did with its crimes and injustice, and this is what America does not want to admit."

Hasan, a Muslim Army psychiatrist, faces 13 counts of premeditated murder and 32 counts of attempted premeditated murder in connection with the Nov. 5 shooting attack at the Texas military facility. He remains under guard at a San Antonio military hospital, where he is paralyzed from the waist down due to injuries suffered in the attack.

source:http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/34579275/ns/us_news-tragedy_at_fort_hood/

Teen faces up to 50 years in Facebook sex scam

Pleads no contest to 2 charges; Wis. prosecutors dismiss other counts

WAUKESHA, Wis. - A Wisconsin teenager who blackmailed dozens of fellow high school students into sex acts by using photos and videos obtained in a Facebook scam faces up to 50 years in prison after pleading no contest to two felonies Tuesday.

Anthony R. Stancl, 19, of New Berlin, had faced 12 charges that carried a maximum penalty of nearly 300 years.

He pleaded no contest to repeated sexual assault of the same child and third-degree sexual assault. In exchange, prosecutors dismissed charges that included second-degree sexual assault, child enticement and possession of child pornography.

Stancl was accused of posing as a girl online and persuading more than 30 classmates to send him naked pictures of themselves, then using the images to blackmail them for sex. Authorities found more than 30 folders on Stancl's computer containing about 300 nude images of other male students at New Berlin Eisenhower High School in southeastern Wisconsin.

Stancl didn't speak in court beyond answering the judge's questions with, "Yes, sir," and "No, sir," and saying he had been taking medication for depression for "a few years."

Victims 'relieved'
Waukesha County district attorney Brad Schimel said he would recommend a "substantial" prison sentence and that he was satisfied with the plea agreement because Stancl still faces up to 50 years.

The deal also spares victims from having to appear in court, a key factor in his negotiations, he said.

"I've never had a case where the victims and their families were more apprehensive about testifying," Schimel said. "From the victims' perspective, they're relieved we're doing this."

Defense attorney Craig Kuhary declined to comment to reporters as he left the courtroom. A status hearing where a sentencing date could be set was scheduled for Jan. 7.

source:http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/34533379/ns/us_news-crime_and_courts/

Outage cripples BlackBerry Americas network

NEW YORK/SAN FRANCISCO - North and South American users of Research in Motion Ltd's BlackBerry smartphone suffered widespread delays in message services on Tuesday, just a week after another outage struck the popular corporate network.

Customers and analysts had raised concerns about network stability after a short-lived outage on December 17 -- the same day the Canadian company reported quarterly results.

RIM said in a statement that some BlackBerry customers in the Americas "are experiencing delays in message delivery. Technical teams are actively working to resolve the issue for those impacted."

Canada-based RIM's line of BlackBerry products is one of the world's most popular smartphone brands, and is used widely among corporations as an email and communications device.

BlackBerry users on Tuesday reported problems on the wireless networks of AT&T Inc, Verizon Communications Inc, Sprint Nextel Corp and T-Mobile USA, a unit of Deutsche Telekom.

BlackBerry customers were also hit by email delays on the morning of December 17, though that outage appeared to affect mainly individual and small-business users, rather than large corporations.

After RIM had major outages in February 2008 and April 2007, customers raised concerns over service stability. The company had pledged to improve reliability to avoid future crashes, but had not disclosed details.

Shares in Research in Motion closed 3.6 percent lower at $67.22 on the Nasdaq, and at C$71.21 in Toronto. They were holding steady in after-hours trade on Nasdaq.

source:http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/34562447/ns/technology_and_science-wireless/

White House picks new cyber czar

Howard A. Schmidt, longtime computer security executive, tapped for post

WASHINGTON - After months of wrangling and delays, President Barack Obama has chosen a national cyber security coordinator to take on the formidable task of organizing and managing the nation's increasingly vulnerable digital networks.

Obama has tapped Howard A. Schmidt, longtime computer security executive who worked in the Bush administration and has extensive ties to the corporate world, according to a senior White House official, who spoke on condition of anonymity because the announcement will not be made until Tuesday.

Schmidt's selection comes more than 10 months after Obama declared cyber security a priority and ordered a broad administration review.

The official said Obama was personally involved in the selection process and chose Schmidt after an extensive search because of his unique background and skills. Schmidt will have regular and direct access to the President for cybersecurity issues, the official said.

Obama released the findings of the cyber security review nearly seven months ago, vowing that the White House will name a cyber coordinator to deal with one of the "most serious economic and national security challenges we face as a nation."

On the back burner?
Corporate computer security leaders have openly expressed frustration with the White House as movement on the job post stalled and questioned the administration's claims that the issue is a priority.

At the same time, cyber experts and potential job candidates have complained that the position lacks the budgetary and policy making authority needed to be successful. Schmidt will report to the National Security Council and closely support the National Economic Council on cyber issues

"From the industry's perspective, a lot of people are starting to think that other pressing matters in Afghanistan and other issues put this on a back burner," said Roger Thornton, chief technology officer for Fortify Software, and a cyber security expert. "If it is, that's understandable but depressing."

Schmidt's selection suggests that economic and business interests in the White House held more sway in the selection process. Schmidt, president and CEO of the Information Security Forum, a nonprofit international consortium that conducts research in information security, has served as chief security officer for Microsoft and as cyber security chief for online auction giant eBay. He was reportedly preferred by NEC director Lawrence Summers.

Thornton praised Schmidt's choice, saying the coordinator has to strong on many different dimensions.

He said Schmidt understands the technology, has broad management experience and also has worked well within the political arena, a key requirement for the White House post.

"I think he would be able to get people to compromise and move things forward," said Thornton.

Hacker threats
U.S. government computer systems are constantly under assault, and are being attacked or scanned millions of times a day. Hackers and cyber criminals pose an expanding threat, using increasingly sophisticated technologies to steal money or information, while nation-states probe for weaknesses in order to steal classified documents or technology or destroy the networks that run vital services.

The nation's cyber security vulnerabilities have been underscored recent months, with a number of high profile assaults, including ones that breached a high-tech fighter jet program and the electrical grid, although no classified material was compromised.

Early last month, unknown hackers knocked a number of U.S and South Korean government Web sites off line in a widespread and unusually resilient computer attack.

Considered an expert in computer forensics, Schmidt's roughly 40-year career includes 31 years in local and federal government service, including a stint as vice chairman of President George W. Bush's Critical Infrastructure Protection Board. He also was for a short time an adviser to the FBI and worked at the National Drug Intelligence Center.

'Cyber peasant'
Congress members, business leaders and cyber security experts have called for a more coordinated effort by the federal government to monitor and protect U.S. systems and work with the private sector to insure that transportation systems, energy plants and other sensitive networks are equally protected.

Obama pledged that the new cyber coordinator will have "regular access" to the Oval Office. But critics worry that the coordinator will be mired in bureaucracy.

Rather than being a cyber czar, the person will be more of a "cyber peasant" said James Lewis, a cybersecurity expert and senior fellow at the Washington-based Center for Strategic and International Studies. "A lot depends on who the person is, but it's not a top tier position, not someone who reports directly to the president."

In a letter to Obama, TechAmerica — which represents about 1,500 companies — said the naming of a coordinator was urgently needed since " those that would seek to harm America by exploiting our digital infrastructure continue to increase their efforts."

With his administration struggling to pass a controversial health care overhaul, deal with a troubled and unpopular war in Afghanistan, and revive the stumbling economy, Obama has had little time to focus on what has become a cyber quagmire.

source:http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/34517252/ns/politics-more_politics/

Clashes erupt at Iran cleric’s funeralClashes erupt at Iran cleric’s funeral

TEHRAN, Iran - Security forces clashed with opposition supporters after the funeral of Iran's top dissident cleric in the Shiite Muslim holy city of Qom on Monday, a reformist Web site reported.

Norooz Web site said there was a heavy presence of security forces around the house of late Grand Ayatollah Hossein Ali Montazeri in Qom and that protesters threw stones at them.

Mourners also chanted anti-government slogans, Web sites reported. Witnesses told The Associated Press that many mourners chanted protest slogans, including "Death to the Dictator," in displays of anger against Iran's ruling establishment.

Montazeri, who died on Saturday night aged 87, was viewed as the spiritual patron of an opposition movement that blossomed after a disputed presidential election in June and has proved resilient despite repeated efforts to suppress it.

Fierce critic

The reformist Web site Jaras said hundreds of thousands of people joined a procession for Montazeri, an architect of Iran's 1979 Islamic revolution that toppled the U.S.-backed shah. He later became a fierce critic of its present hard-line leadership.

"They were shouting slogans in his support and also in support of (opposition leader) Mir Hossein Mousavi," Jaras said.

Ayande Web site, seen as close to conservative politician Mohsen Rezaie, said: "The burial ceremony has come to an end and the crowd are in the streets around the shrine demonstrating and shouting anti-government slogans."

The reformist Kaleme Web site said crowds carrying "green symbols" had chanted: "Today is the day of mourning and the green Iranian nation is the owner of this mourning," referring to the color adopted by the opposition.

The reports could not be verified independently. Foreign media have been banned from reporting on protests and also from traveling to Qom for Montazeri's funeral.

Riot police were out in force to in Qom, 80 miles south of Tehran for the funeral of the senior Shiite cleric who had been a thorn in the side of the establishment during his life.

Heart attack

His death of a heart attack occurred at a tense moment when the government was seeking to choke off any attempt by its opponents to use the run-up to the Shiite religious occasion of Ashura to stage large-scale rallies.

Now the seventh-day mourning ritual for Montazeri will coincide with Ashura on Sunday, perhaps amplifying the intensity of any protests. The Islamic nature of the occasion makes it harder for the authorities to keep people off the streets.

The internal upheaval, highlighted by Montazeri's arguments the leadership had lost its legitimacy, has complicated a long-running dispute over Iran's nuclear program, which the West believes may have military, not just civilian purposes.

Mousavi, the main opposition leader reached Qom and had given Montazeri's family his condolences, the reformist Web site Kaleme said. But security forces were reported to have intercepted other activists on their way to the city.

Opposition figures declared a national day of mourning for Montazeri, who was named in the 1980s to succeed revolutionary leader Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini, but was shunted aside after he criticized mass executions of prisoners.

Khamenei, who succeeded Khomeini after he died in 1989, expressed his condolences, but said he asked God to forgive Montazeri over a "difficult and critical test" that he faced toward the end of Khomeini's life," ISNA news agency said. Khamenei made clear he believed Montazeri failed the test.

'High goals'

The Ministry of Culture and Islamic Guidance told newspapers in Tehran not to print front-page photographs of Montazeri or carry condolence messages, except for Khamenei's, the Kaleme and Parlemannews Web sites said. No official comment was available.

Khomeini's grandson, Hassan Khomeini, a cleric, paid tribute in his condolence message to a man he said had "spent many years of his honorable life on the path of advancing the high goals of Islam and the Islamic revolution," ILNA news agency reported.

Human rights activist and Nobel prize laureate Shirin Ebadi called Montazeri "the father of human rights in Iran."

President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad's re-election in a June vote that losing candidates Mousavi and Mehdi Karoubi said was rigged sparked the worst unrest in the Islamic Republic's 30-year history and split the political and clerical establishment.

source:http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/34507070/ns/world_news-mideastn_africa/

Chavez: U.S. spy plane in Venezuela’s airspace

CARACAS, Venezuela - President Hugo Chavez on Sunday accused the U.S. of violating Venezuela's airspace with an unmanned spy plane, and ordered his military to be on alert and shoot down any such aircraft in the future.

Speaking during his weekly television and radio program, Chavez said the aircraft overflew a Venezuelan military base in the western state of Zulia after taking off from neighboring Colombia. He did not elaborate, but suggested the plane was being used for espionage.

"These are the Yankees. They are entering Venezuela," he said.

"I've ordered them to be shot down," Chavez said of the aircraft. "We cannot permit this."

Chavez has accused Colombia of allowing the United States to use its military bases to prepare a possible attack against Venezuela.

Both the U.S. and Colombia have denied such allegations in the past, saying the U.S. military presence is for the sole purpose of combating drug trafficking.

A spokeswoman for the U.S. Embassy said the mission had no information about any flyover and had not been contacted by Chavez's administration.

"If the Venezuelan government would like to speak with us about any issue, we would welcome discussions because we seek open dialogue with all nations in the hemisphere," spokeswoman Robin Holzhauer said.

It is not uncommon for Chavez to accuse other nations, especially the U.S. and its allies, of conspiring against Venezuela.

Last week, the president accused the Netherlands of letting the U.S. military use Dutch islands off Venezuela's Caribbean coast to prepare for a possible military offensive. The former paratroop commander said the U.S. military has sent intelligence agents, warships and spy planes to Aruba, Curacao and Bonaire, which are self-governing Dutch islands.

The Dutch government rejected the allegations and the country's top diplomat, Foreign Minister Maxime Verhagen, has asked Venezuela's ambassador to clarify the claims, Dutch Foreign Ministry spokesman Bart Rijs said.

Rijs said U.S. soldiers do use civilian air fields on Curacao and Aruba, but only for anti-drug trafficking efforts.

source:http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/34504415/ns/world_news-venezuela/

And the ‘Survivor Samoa’ winner is...

The sole survivor: Natalie White, 26, a former pharmaceutical sales rep from Arkansas, won "Survivor Samoa's" $1 million prize, taking the title of sole Survivor from one of the biggest game players ever, Russell. But his game was too big, and the jury gave Natalie more votes (third-place Mick apparently received zero votes). Natalie may not have outwitted like Russell did, but she outplayed and outlasted him.

Famous last words: After the first immunity challenge, Russell said of Natalie: "Who better to take to the final two than her? There's no way she can beat me in votes." No way at all. He also said that the other players were "my puppets. When I'm finished with them, just throw them in the trash." But he forgot that he needed to get their votes before discarding them.

Devastated: Before the final Tribal Council, Russell told us, "If Mick or Natalie won this game over me, that would just be a shame. It wouldn't make any sense to me. I've played this game strategically better than anybody, maybe in history." But during the live show, he displayed bloodshot eyes.

Jeff Probst told him, "You look visibly upset right now." Russell said, "I feel like I played the best strategic game in history. And I'm not the only one who thinks that. I can guarantee you millions of people think that." But as Jeff Probst pointed out, Natalie's strategy of riding the coattails of an abrasive game-player was "a strategy that's legitimate."

$100,000 for a title: During the reunion, Russell offered Natalie an extra payout: $10,000. "All I want is the title of sole survivor. I will pay you $10,000 for the title, if Jeff says 'you are the sole survivor,' and I get it written in paper," he said. Natalie kept her million and her title, even after Russell upped his offer to $100,000. "I would have taken that money," Jeff Probst said.

Many threats, few votes: Before the final Tribal Council, Russell tried to psyche his opponents out, talking about being a millionaire and congratulating himself. He even told Natalie, "This game ain't over girl. I'll put you in the jury." But as Mick pointed out, "(Russell) needs to be reminded that he couldn't have done this without us." The jury got the message.

Don't need the money: During the final Tribal Council, Jaison used his time to expose the final three's finances. He asked them to come clean about what they really do for a living, threatening them with, "if you don't, I will." Doctor Mick Trimming said he's $320,000 in debt, Natalie pointed out she doesn't currently have a job, and although Russell is already a millionaire, he didn't say that. But Jaison's point was that all three have had or will have financially lucrative careers, so the jury shouldn't take monetary need into account.

Jaison goes home, and offers up TMI: After seven Tribal Councils in a row that saw Galu members go home, the first member of the Foa Foa four to be voted out was Jaison. Russell and Natalie chose between Jaison and Mick. While Jaison said that "Russell and I have a very long history of working together," Russell blindsided him because "Jaison checked out of this game a long time ago." It's hard to argue when, at the start of the show, Jaison told his tribemates that he had "little energy and diarrhea all night."

Holy shaky pole: The final immunity challenge came down to Russell and Brett, who were balancing statues on top of seven-foot poles. Wind blew and their poles wobbled, and the outcome of the game rested on those statues. If Brett won, he'd almost certainly win the game with a jury full of former Galu members. "This is a showdown," Jeff Probst said. But Brett's streak of immunity challenge wins ended when his statue fell.

source:http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/34468042/ns/entertainment-reality_tv/

Fla. mom under fire for tweet after son's death

Posted less than an hour after her 2-year-old fell into family swimming pool

MERRITT ISLAND, Fla. - A Florida mother is being criticized by bloggers and Twitter users for posting a tweet less than an hour after her 2-year-old son drowned in a swimming pool at her home.

Shellie Ross, a 38-year-old stay-at-home mother who lives outside Patrick Air Force Base where her husband serves, posted a message asking that people pray for her son after he had fallen into the family's swimming pool on Monday. Her son, Bryson, died at a hospital less than an hour after paramedics responded.

Ross has more than 5,000 followers on her Twitter account, Military_Mom, and she also maintains a blog, Blog4Mom.

Since the tweet, Ross has been criticized for taking the time to send out the message.

"I wish we could start a donation in Bryson Ross's name to sue his mother for negligence," one blogger, Madison McGraw, wrote Thursday.

The Brevard County Sheriff's Office doesn't plan to file any charges against Ross since it doesn't appear to be a case of negligence, said Sgt. Allie Roberts.

The tweet "really has no bearing on anything," Roberts said. "Her Twittering doesn't make a difference."

Some of Ross' Twitter followers have been quick to defend her. One follower, Portia, wrote, "Sorry for your loss. My son almost drowned 3 1/2 years ago. Very blessed he survived. Easy for people to judge. Stay strong."

Ross has since removed the tweet from her account.

On her blog, Ross has asked media outlets to leave her alone and said she won't comment on what happened.

"Those who do not know me, us our family: Find a hobby, get a job, get a clue please," she wrote on the blog. "Stop slandering my name, stop disrespecting my son and husband with your pitiful pathetic mouths."

source:http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/34484153/ns/technology_and_science-tech_and_gadgets/